Prepare your design for imprinting on a shirt. Open a file on your computer and work with graphic elements including photos, illustrations, words, logos, icons and color. Keep in mind that most ink jet transfer paper is letter size, 8.5 by 11 inches. Full-color designs work well with ink jet transfer. One-color designs work best for home silk-screen printing.
Prepare an ink jet transfer for imprinting on a shirt. Flip your design horizontally on your computer and print it on ink jet transfer paper. In Adobe Photoshop, go to the image pull-down menu and select "Rotate canvas." From the menu that appears, choose "Flip canvas horizontal."
Place the ink jet transfer face down over the shirt to be imprinted. Set the iron on high heat, cotton setting and iron the back of the transfer paper evenly for four or five minutes. Remove the paper to see the design printed on the shirt.
To screen print a one-color graphic design, set the design up as line art, black only. Print the design on transparent vellum. This is referred to as a film positive.
Coat a silk screen with photo emulsion, coating both sides evenly and removing excess emulsion. Once dry, place the silk screen face down over foam rubber trimmed to fit inside the screen. Place the film positive face-down over it and place the heavy glass on top.
Hang the halide light 18 inches over the silk screen, film and glass. Turn the light on for the recommended exposure time, from the photo emulsion instructions. Develop the screen with warm water under medium pressure. Blot both sides of the screen with newsprint. Once dry, place silk screen over the shirt, add ink and wipe through the screen with the squeegee. Any color ink may be used. Lift the screen to see the print.